All The Fun Of The Fair

We're rather spoiled here on the Gold Coast, we have many fine attractions - both natural and man-made - right on our door step.

But back before there were theme parks with thrill rides, people had to wait a whole year for the Show to come to town.

This week Brisbane plays host to its Royal Show and Exhibition, more popularly known as The Ekka. In a time honoured tradition, farmers bring the best of their livestock and produce to town for competition and demonstrating to city kids that milk doesn't just come from a bottle.

Of course that was only part of the fun. There was also sideshow alley with games, rides and carnival treats such as fairy floss, show bags and dagwood dogs (scroll down for pictures and a charming description).

For another group of people The Ekka is just one of a long line of standing appointments. Within two weeks of the show closing, carnival travels south to set up for the Gold Coast Show (this year held on August 30 to September 1).

Founded in 1906, the Southport Show, as it was originally called, attracted visitors who were were already in the region as well as locals who enjoyed the fun of the fair as well as the challenge of competition in everything from agriculture and animal husbandry to needle work and athletics.

This week's Sunday drive is actually a trip back in time to the 1910 Southport Show and select advertisements from the Southport Show souvenir.

(Apologies for the quality it is only a photocopy. The original is held by the Gold Coast Historical Society.)

And with all these people coming to town - they would need somewhere to stay. So how about at the most modern hotel in Southport - the Hotel Cecil on the corner of Nerang and Scarborough Streets built in 1908?


Here's a better image of the hotel (at right).


But as with everything on the Gold Coast nothing stays the same for long. The original Cecil Hotel was destroyed by fire and a more modern Art Deco public house (at left) was built in its place.

That at least stands untouched by time and the developer's bulldozer.

For now.

The Cecil Hotel is for sale (click for a slide show of the site as it stands today).

Woolworths has a long term lease to run the hotel, but as the sales page helpfully notes the area is also zoned for a "40 level height limit and 1 bed per 13sqm net site area".

While the expression of interest has long expired there has been no word as to whether it has a new owner or whether another local landmark will disappear.